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Not sure if it is getting old or the realization that I would never be able to do all the hottest tricks (or a combination of both) but over the past few years I have been flying older kites much more often. Put an exclamation point on it yesterday when I set up a few kites to fly ... TrickTail. TrickTail UltraLite, Prism Eclipse and an original Benson Gemini all of which are better than 10 years old. Never did get around to flying the Eclipse but I did spend a fair amount of time on the Gem. This is an "old school" Gem and every time I fly it I realize what a great kite it was and how much I enjoy the turn of the century flying style.

Once I came to terms with the fact that I wasn't going to be the next Wardley, Mayet and/or Graziano (all of whom I admire and have had the pleasure of flying with) I enjoy kiting as much as I did when I first started .. actually even more.

Anyone else?

Logged

Steve ... Ancient One-look to the sky with imagination, grasp the wind with outstretched arms and take flight

Right there with you, Steve. I flew a Prism Elixir for 2 hours yesterday, and flew a classic Illusion the week before. Whenever there's next to no wind, the only kite I have that will fly is a Prism Ozone. That's soon to change, as I have a PBSK Vanishing Point on the way.The Elixir and the Illy can do most of the tricks that I know how to do, my roll-up based tricks are my weakest tricks. The rotation based tricks are my favorites, followed by flick flacs and JLs. I just love how they can hold a fade...

If I ever want to get my roll ups working better, I know I have to put down these older kites, but I'm having so much fun flying them, and learning better control doing the tricks I can do, I probably won't be working on anything new for a while.

If old school is rotational tricks and new school is pitch tricks, then I'm definitely old school. (Are JLs old or new school 'cuz it rotates AND it pitches? My Fearless does 'em with ease.) I HAVE discovered that I'm not consistent from one kite to the next and that I'm better at certain tricks with certain kites. So maybe I'll never be as good as RonG unless I put the hours into it but I'll always be out there trying to learn the next thing with whatever I've got. Maybe I should dig out my Prism Flashlight from 1998. It's all good.

Not sure if it is getting old or the realization that I would never be able to do all the hottest tricks (or a combination of both) but over the past few years I have been flying older kites much more often. Put an exclamation point on it yesterday when I set up a few kites to fly ... TrickTail. TrickTail UltraLite, Prism Eclipse and an original Benson Gemini all of which are better than 10 years old. Never did get around to flying the Eclipse but I did spend a fair amount of time on the Gem. This is an "old school" Gem and every time I fly it I realize what a great kite it was and how much I enjoy the turn of the century flying style.

Once I came to terms with the fact that I wasn't going to be the next Wardley, Mayet and/or Graziano (all of whom I admire and have had the pleasure of flying with) I enjoy kiting as much as I did when I first started .. actually even more.

Anyone else?

BAD PUSHER! Surely these kites are all bad and everyone should be buying new ones!

although i do like the psycho, stranger and at times, the level 7 for there 'old skool' feel

Are Revs old school?? Have you flown the B Series? They are SO smooth! The basic design may not have changed all that much but they're refined! I prefer duals but if it's too much work in higher wind I take out my B Series vented or mid vent.

There's old school, older old school, pre standoff etc. The problem with defining old school / new school is that it's a transition from there to where we are now.

I'm guilty of simply using old / new school terminology too when I describe kites. I guess I consider old school trick kites as those capable of slower axle & flat spin based tricks and not backspin / roll up tricks / combos etc. and newer often being much quicker tricking too. Of course there's a hole bunch of kites that will be somewhere in between.

Then there the whole issue of whether the kite was ever any good (your style) anyway.

To me the Gem is not old school at all. It's not new new school either though.

Guess I should clarify ... I didn't mean to say that the Gemini was an "old school" kite. What I meant was that the kite I flew was an original (circa 2000) Gemini.

The Gem is a animal of a different color. The original (cross bridle) and the current (tristar bridle) are different kites. Put 3 or 5 grams of weight on each spine of the new Gem and you will have trouble calling the Gem an old school kite. It will compete with the current stock of trick kites. Some kite defy labels and the Gemini is one of them

I have taken my Elixer and I have Built a Retrograde Kit for them that I Personally BUILD and refit the kite with.

Starting with Adjusting the Bridal OUT almost 3/4"From a complete weight set from the Q Pro To Yo Yo stoppers Even NEW stiff Hand Cut Pattern COVER's for going over the APA fittings on the Upper and Lower Spreaders. for NO snags Leading Edges. Then Longer Leaders with a Catcher in it at almost a Full wrap Incase you miss 1 Of the Yo Yo's

NOW it flies Like a OLD school Kite and It gets it ON in almost ALL the New school Tricks!~!

ALTHOE it has to do with the Pilot and Knowing the Tricks in the First Place and the timing. BUT it sure Makes them EASIER now...

I have taken my Elixer and I have Built a Retrograde Kit for them that I Personally BUILD and refit the kite with.

Starting with Adjusting the Bridal OUT almost 3/4"From a complete weight set from the Q Pro To Yo Yo stoppers Even NEW stiff Hand Cut Pattern COVER's for going over the APA fittings on the Upper and Lower Spreaders. for NO snags Leading Edges. Then Longer Leaders with a Catcher in it at almost a Full wrap Incase you miss 1 Of the Yo Yo's

NOW it flies Like a OLD school Kite and It gets it ON in almost ALL the New school Tricks!~!

ALTHOE it has to do with the Pilot and Knowing the Tricks in the First Place and the timing. BUT it sure Makes them EASIER now...

Here comes one of those statement that gets people in trouble, but I can resist.

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